Float or raft



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 J; A. SANCHES FLOAT OR RAFT Filed Nov. 16,

June 17,1941

Inventor A iiomeys FLOAT 0R RAFT Filed Nov. 16, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 In ventor Jfl Ash/rakes A itomeys June 17, 1941.

J. A. SANCHES FLOAT 0R RAFT Filed Nov. 16, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 A iiomey:

June 17, 1941. J. A. SANCHES v FLOAT OR RAFT Filed NOV. 16, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor ffl fia/yc/xes A ffomcys Patented June 17, 1941 i TED STATE s misr- OFF-ice FLOAT on RAFT v 1 Joseph A. Sanches, New York, NYY; 7 Application November 16, 1939; Serial No. 304,848 7 2 Claims.

This invention relates to floats or rafts especially adapted for bathers or may be employed while recliningand also has means whereby a number of persons may conveniently grab hold of the same while in the water so that they may keep themselves afloat. I

Another object of this invention is the provision of a device of the above statedcharacter which besides havingv a maximum amount of buoyancy will be durable and easily folded into a compact device for convenient handling, carrying or storing and may be manufactured and sold at a low cost.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan View illustrating a float or raft constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation illustrating the device.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken on the line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional View of the device in a folded position showing the hinge connection between the frame sections thereof.

Figure 6 is a top plan view illustrating a cover or carrying bag for the device.

Figure 7 is a side elevation illustrating the cover or carrying bag adapted to the device with the latter in a folded condition.

Figure 8 is a plan view illustrating a head rest.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 indicates a main foldable frame including parallel spaced portions 6 and converging end portions 1 arranged to have abutting engagement and shaped to give the appearance of a bow of a boat. A hinge 8 connects the end portions to permit of the side portions to be folded one upon the other when the device is not in use. The side and end portions are constructed of a strip of rigid materialil, such as wood or the like, and layers of cork H! which coact in providing a maximumamount of buoyancy to the mainframe. The strips of rigid material- 9 and the layers of cork may be secured together in any well known manner; Certain layers of the cork within the end portions 1 are cut-away to receive rigid blocks I l forming mountings for the hinge 8. A cover I2 is arranged to encase the sections of the main frame constructed of canvas or any other material suitable for the purpose and which acts to retainthe layers of cork and the rigid strips in place.

A hammock i3 is arranged in asuspended position within thespace defined by the side members 6' and end members I an'd'is composed'of afiexible frame 14 provided with looped portions I5 at the corners thereofto extend throughloop membe'rs l6 secured onfthe'sid'e members 6 and end members 1'. Transversely and longitudinally interlaced fabric strips I! are connected with the frame 14 and coact therewith in forming the hammock on which a person or persons may recline, sit or stand, the hammock being comparatively stable to permit a person to keep balanced thereon should it be desired to paddle the float or raft.

Tubular members I8 extend through the side portions 6 adjacent one end of the main frame to frictionally' and removably receive attaching portions of a substantially U-shaped frame 20 which forms a connector between the side portions of the main frame to prevent accidental folding thereof and also provides a ladder construction by depending between the side portions. A step plate 2| is removably mounted on the frame 20 by having its ends notched to receive the parallel side portions of the substantially U-shaped frame and provides an eflicient tread for a person to step upon when desiring to leave the water and obtain a position upon the hammock.

Tubular members 22 are mounted in the end portions I to frictionally receive uprights '23 which support a canopy 24 for shading a persons face and head while in a reclining position on the hammock. Frictional type pivots 25 connect the canopy to the uprights 23 which will permit adjusting of the canopy into different positions. Also the canopy can be raised and lowered by adjusting the uprights in the tubular members 22.

A head rest 26 is connected with the uprights on which a person may position the head while in a reclining position on the hammock and under the canopy. It is preferable that the head rest be constructed of elastic material with end loops 21 which receive the uprights 23 and which permits the head rest to be detached when the canopy is removed from the main frame.

Hand straps 28 are secured on the top faces of the side members 6 and extend parallel therewith so that a person may readily obtain a firm grip on the device when occupying a position on the hammock.

The side and end members upon their outer vertical faces are provided with eye-type fasteners 29 through which may be passed flexible elements 30 to form hand grips for persons to grip while floating or within the water to susta'in themselves by the present invention. .The flexible elements are preferably knotted, as shown at 3|, to prevent from being withdrawn from the eye-type fasteners.

It will be seen that the combined connector and ladder type construction can be easily removed from the main frame as well as the canopy construction so that the main frame may be folded with one section lying upon the other and when in this position may be placed in a bag or covering 32, the latter having a suitable opening or slot therein which is closed by a zippertype fastener 33. The device thus arranged can be conveniently carried and stored in a comparatively small space, it being understood that the canopy construction as well as the combined connector and ladder construction are also arranged within the covering 32 so that all parts will be kept intact.

It is believed that the foregoing description, when taken in connection with the drawings, will fully set forth the construction and advantages of this invention to those skilled in the art to which such a device relates so that further detailed description will not be required.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

'1. In a raft of the class described, a substantially U-snaped sectional frame composed of rigid strips and layers of buoyant material, tubular fasteners securing the strips and layers of buoyant material together and located adjacent the ends of the frame, a hinge connecting the sections of the frame and located at one end of the latter, a substantially U-shaped ladder depending from the frame and having angularly disposed end portions inserted in the tubular fasteners at one end of the frame and acting to prevent the sections of the frame from hinging relative to each other, vertical uprights inserted in the tubular fasteners at the other end of the frame, and a canopy pivoted on said uprights.

2. In a raft of the class described, a substantially U -shaped sectional frame composed of rigid strips and layers of buoyant material, tubular fasteners securing the strips and layers of buoyant material together and located adjacent the ends of the frame, a hinge connecting the sec tions of the frame and located at one end of the latter, a substantially U-shaped ladder depending from the frame and having angularly disposed end portions inserted in the tubular fasteners at one end of the frame and acting to prevent the sections of the frame from hinging relative to each other, vertical uprights inserted in the tubular fasteners at the other end of the frame, and .a canopy pivoted on said uprights, a head rest slidable on said uprights, and an elongated flexible hammock construction having the corners thereof pivotally connected to the frame with one end portion extending under the canopy and terminating adjacent the headrest.

JOSEPH A. SANC'HES, 

